END OF THE TRACK: The error message shown to loyal Eightlaners this evening
Popular running forum, Eightlane has been handed a winding up order by the HMRC, the Lufbra Echo understands. In what is sure to go down as one of the saddest days in the history of the sport, the website was shut down after tax bills totalling in excess of £5m were left unpaid. A spokesperson for the forum this evening said that he "had every hope" that the site could be back on its feet under new ownership in the coming weeks.
Today's news comes just days after Eightlane was forced to pay an undisclosed sum to one its employees after they successfully sued over the "appalling conditions" endured by the staff. The tribunal heard how eighteen hour days were "very much the norm" and "inane and irrelevant posts about people no one had ever heard of" were making staff "borderline suicidal".
It is understood that a dramatic take over attempt by Runnerslife was foiled just hours before the court order was sent out. A RL spokesman said that the team at Eightlane were "unworkable" and as such the deal could not be finalised. "Like all these things, it came down to money" said the Welshman "we didn't see why such a large proportion of earning should be paid to an essentially bust site that relies on underachievers ranting about nonsense".
Runnerslife are, of course, not without fault in this. During the summer they infuriated Eightlane chiefs by poaching Dave Norman and were rumoured to be behind the dramatic exit of Luke Cragg. Loyal Eightlane fans have been resigned to this outcome for sometime and have called on "anybody with a conscience" to boycott the Wales based site from now on. "I think it's outrageous" said regular poster 'Interested', "just because they have their stupid blogs and stupid running vests, they have gone after and destroyed a national treasure."